Fueled by two Redoute’s Choice colts that sold for more than $2-million, the third day of the William Inglis and Son Australian Easter yearling sale propelled the overall average price to a record $355,942 ($376,342 Australian) and the median to a record $236,449 ($250,000 Australian) at Newmarket on Tuesday.

The company reported a record 28 yearlings brought $1-million Australian or more, including four that topped the $2-million mark, during the first three sessions.

The sale picks up again on Thursday and will be followed by the classic yearling sale, which begins on Sunday.

“[The Easter sale] is now one of the strongest sales anywhere in the world,” said bloodstock agent John Ferguson, who signed the ticket for the two top-priced colts on Tuesday on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Darley Stable. “There’s great depth to the sale and that’s always the sign of a good sale.”

Despite having 86 fewer horses cataloged, the total receipts of $135,258,344 ($143,390,000 Australian) fell only marginally short of last year’s total through three days.

Ferguson finished as the leading buyer through three sessions, with 20 purchases for a total of $17,974,860 ($19,005,000 Australian), including seven yearlings in excess of $1-million Australian.

The group was highlighted by the $2,553,650 ($2.7-million Australian) Redoute’s Choice colt out of Salameh, by Secret Savings, a Group 3 winner and half sister to Group 1 winner Al Maher. The colt was consigned by Emirates Park.

Ferguson and Darley also went to $2,364,491 ($2.5-million Australian) for a Redoute’s Choice colt out of Snowdrift, by Polish Precedent. Consigned by Tyreel Stud, the colt is a half brother to Group 1 winner Snowland.

Bob Ingham, who recently sold his Australian racing and breeding operation to Darley, matched Ferguson’s spending spree through most of the sale and finished with 23 yearlings for $16,906,110 ($17,875 Australian).

“The sale has exceeded all expectations given what has transpired over the past six months within the industry,” said Mark Webster, managing director for William Inglis and Son. “I’d like to thank the breeders who supported it with their best yearlings and the buyers who arrived from around the globe. It was particularly pleasing to see such a high clearance rate of 85%, and we couldn’t have possibly wished for a better result this week.”

Tyreel Stud’s yearlings continue to be highly sought after at Easter and the Fleming family operation finished the sale as the leading vendor by average with 12 yearlings sold for an average of $879,590 ($930,000). Coolmore Stud topped the vendors by gross with 39 yearlins reported as sold for $15,525,248 ($16,415,000).